League One table-toppers Barnsley aim to continue their perfect start to the new campaign when they meet Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Tykes put seven past Port Vale on the opening weekend, while Joey Barton's side took a point home from a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.

Match preview

After consolidating their place in the third tier of English football last season, Bristol Rovers were a force to be reckoned with in pre-season, winning four of their five friendly matches - scoring at least twice on each occasion - and only losing to Portuguese powerhouses Braga.

Barton's side were ostensibly set for an opening three-point haul to their League One campaign too, as Luke Thomas drew first blood at Fratton Park during last weekend's meeting with Portsmouth, but the hosts left it late to equalise through Kusini Yengi in second-half injury time.

Bristol Rovers could have arguably had few complaints about coming away from Fratton Park with a point to their name - one which leaves them in an unlucky 13th place in the embryonic rankings - and a midweek EFL Cup clash with Ipswich Town was not a joyful affair.

Indeed, Barton's side saw their knockout campaign end at the first hurdle courtesy of goals from Jack Taylor and Sone Aluko either side of the break, although upbeat first-team coach Andy Mangan was able to pick out "so many positives" from his side, who were not without their opportunities on the evening.

Now taking to the Memorial Stadium turf for the first time in the 2023-24 League One season, Bristol Rovers did not give the home crowd much to cheer in the second half of last season, as they won just one of their final 10 games on familiar territory and should not be backed by many to better that tally against a merciless Barnsley crop.

The disappointment of losing last year's playoff final to Sheffield Wednesday has certainly galvanised Neill Collins's Barnsley side, who began life after Michael Duff with a ruthless 7-0 obliteration of Port Vale last weekend, which marked the biggest opening-day League One win in over 60 years.

Devante Cole notched a terrific treble alongside strikes from Liam Kitching, Jon Russell, Andy Dallas and a Dan Jones own goal, as the Tykes immediately cemented their position at the top of the rankings ahead of another expected crack at promotion this time around.

However, Barnsley were the victims of an EFL Cup giant killing in midweek, as after equalising right at the death against League Two Tranmere Rovers to rescue a 2-2 draw, Collins's side suffered heartache from 12 yards in a 7-6 penalty-shootout defeat.

Having sent out a youthful side to take on their League Two counterparts, Collins was also able to take the positives from that premature exit, and Barnsley now seek to stretch their unbeaten away record in League One to five games, although each of their last three in 2022-23 ended level.

Bristol Rovers held Barnsley to a 0-0 draw when the Tykes visited the Memorial Stadium at the start of March, but Barton's side were comfortably swept aside 3-0 at Oakwell during the early stages of the campaign, and few would be surprised to see lightning strike twice this weekend.

Team News

As Barton serves a three-game stadium ban for misconduct during April's loss to Sheffield Wednesday, Mangan will continue to oversee preparations for the visit of Barnsley, but he has been boosted by the return of midfielder Josh Grant from injury.

The 24-year-old has come off the bench in both of the hosts' opening games so far after a lengthy absence, so he may continue to build up his fitness as a substitute, but fellow midfielder Jordan Rossiter is still struggling with a knee issue.

George Friend and James Gibbons are also taking up spots in the medical bay, but on a brighter note, Luke McCormick enjoyed a 15-minute run-out in the recent cup loss to Ipswich.

Meanwhile, Barnsley's 7-0 thrashing of Port Vale was not entirely perfect for Collins, who lost new signing Corey O'Keeffe to a thigh injury after just 33 minutes of that opening-day triumph.

The severity of the defender's concern is unclear, but he sat out the loss to Tranmere and is seemingly fighting a losing battle to return to fitness in time for the weekend, so Barry Cotter could hold his place on the right-hand side from midweek.

Luca Connell is also out of contention as he battles back from an illness, while new arrival Mael de Gevigney will have had a week's worth of training by the time Saturday rolls around and may be given the green light to make his debut.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Cox; Hoole, Connolly, Crama, Gordon; Sinclair, Finley, Ward, Thomas; Brown, Marquis

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Williams, Kitching, Lopota; Cotter, Kane, Russell, Styles, Cadden; Cole, Watters

We say: Bristol Rovers 1-3 Barnsley

A return to League One duty should be just what the doctor ordered for both sets of players in the wake of their early EFL Cup eliminations, although the hosts' final game with Mangan on the touchline should not be a memorable one.

With Barnsley head coach Collins sure to revert to most of the XI that taught Port Vale a footballing lesson last weekend, the Tykes should make it two for two in League One with relative ease.


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